--- title: Stranded The Incredible Logistics of - Super Remote Locations description: "Imagine what it would feel like to be dropped off in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but a sparsely furnished cabin, a trusted furry companion, and the small chest of supplies your escort could fit in their helicopter. And imagine what it would feel like to watch that helicopter take off, knowing that once they disappear over the tree-line, the nearest other person will be dozens, if not hundreds of miles away from your location. Sure, somebody will make a supply drop in a month's time, but until then, you're completely on your own with what you've got, in a place where 911 calls are not going to be an option.\n\nFor most of us, this kind of life might seem unthinkable, but every day, thousands of intrepid adventurers, scientists, and military personnel make it their life's work to live on the fringes. Whether in remote research stations in nearly inhospitable environments, or alone in uncharted wilderness, or even out in the vacuum of space, there's some folks out there who are just built different. In this article, we'll look at what exactly it takes to keep these people alive, and what it truly means to be stranded where nobody is coming to save them.\n\n## Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station\n\nAny real-estate agent can sell a mansion, but it's the talented ones who can sell a fixer-upper. So we can only assume that whoever gets people to go out and live at the South Pole must be a genius, because that particular real-estate really doesn't sell itself. At an elevation of 9,300 feet above sea level, and surrounded by thousands of square miles of Antarctica's barren ice sheet, the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station sees an annual mean temperature of -56 degrees Fahrenheit and spends months out of every year in complete darkness. We would describe those conditions as absolute ass, but every year, over 150 people voluntarily choose to live and work there, including fifty or so who make the decision to spend the winter. In complete isolation from mid-February to late October, these fifty people carry out scientific experiments, conduct research in astrophysics and glaciology, and, we assume, try not to freeze—so how do they make it through the winter?\n\nSince extreme weather makes all travel to the South Pole impossible during these months—and, yes, we do mean completely impossible—the station has to store all of its supplies in advance, and carefully track and ration how they're used. In the summer, the base is served by a tractor train known as SPoT, which brings supplies up on specialized sleds. Anything that the station needs for winter must be accounted-for on the sleds during the summer. The station is built on stilts in order to be kept clear of snowdrifts, but the weather must still be continually monitored, and with exceptions for research, the people manning the station must stay inside. In rare, lucky windows of survivable weather, a plane might be able to make a supply drop, but that's about it.\n\nInside the station, staying sane is just as important as staying warm, and unlike the other locations we'll explore in this piece, the good folks at the South Pole have the advantage of a fairly long list of amenities. A hydroponic greenhouse supplies fresh fruits and vegetables, the station features plenty of lounges, a library, an art studio, and a gym, and it's got plenty of relatively comfortable, relatively private sleeping accommodations. They've also got limited capabilities to carry out medical surgery, plus plenty of Vitamin D supplements to make up for the complete lack of sunlight. Frostbite and altitude sickness are common, but those can typically be handled by medical staff. Psychologically, people who've wintered over at the South Pole typically emphasize the importance of building connections and friendships at the base, and pushing hard against the instinct to isolate or withdraw.\n\nThe station's inaccessibility means that any problem that can't be dealt with using the resources kept on-premises can very quickly go from an inconvenience to a catastrophe. In June of 2016, two workers suffering from an undisclosed illness proved to be beyond the station's ability to treat. June at the South Pole is one of the most inhospitable months of the year, and although the workers desperately needed to be evacuated, the planes that usually service the station wouldn't have been capable of making the journey in temperatures below -70 degrees Fahrenheit. Left with no other choice, the organization that oversees the South Pole station was forced to send a single Twin Otter prop plane on an exceptionally dangerous journey to get them out. A similar evacuation in 2001, the first one ever attempted, saw the evac plane freeze to the ice once it landed, but in 2016, the rescue plane was able to get its patients out with minimal issues, despite a wind chill of -113 degrees. Despite that success story, staff preparing to winter at the South Pole are still told explicitly not to expect any help, because of the intense risk to pilots and personnel who try and launch a rescue.\n\n## Nuclear Submarines\n\nThe inside of a nuclear submarine is a truly unique environment, one in which sailors must spend almost all of their time in dark, stressful working conditions, work long shifts, and be isolated with only each other for company. American ballistic-missile submarines are capable of staying submerged up to three months at a time, traveling far afield from US or allied ports where they might be able to resupply. But even though the submarines don't need any conventional fuel, they do need other supplies throughout their voyage, and in a wartime scenario, these subs couldn't travel all the way back to port without reducing their value as a nuclear deterrent to enemy nations. Luckily for them, naval logistics are up to the task.\n\nNuclear-submarine resupply can come through four basic airborne platforms. A drone can deliver small items or equipment pieces, or a helicopter can deliver individual small crates, both useful options to deliver small essentials like medicine or a replacement part. Alternately, a Marine Corps Osprey aircraft could conceivably deliver fairly large amounts of goods, or pick up personnel and bring them to an American base or aircraft carrier. Finally, the Air Force's cargo planes can make some pretty massive deliveries. Which instrument the Navy chooses would depend on the needs of the moment; a submarine in relative peacetime might get a visit from an unaccompanied helicopter, or in a time of active hostilities, it might surface for a moment to receive an airdrop from a cargo plane and a full fighter escort, before disappearing into the depths again.\n\nWhen supply by water is feasible, submarines take their resupply from ships called submarine tenders—that is, their job is to tend to the submarines, and make sure they're well-stocked. These tenders meet their submarines at rendezvous points, where sailors from both vessels perform a well-rehearsed transfer using rope lines to slide re-supply bags down onto the top of the sub. Once those resupply bags are onboard, the submarines are good to go for the foreseeable future, and once underwater, they're cut off from the world entirely until the next scheduled rendezvous.\n\nMuch like the South Pole station, life on a nuclear submarine is just as much about keeping busy as it is about fulfilling the Navy's mission. In extremely cramped quarters, with sailors sharing bunks and using their tiny spaces for multiple purposes at once, activities like exercise, card games, reading, and movies are critical, while subjects like politics or sensitive arguments are carefully avoided. Although the nuclear submarine force is vetted for mental health, and made up entirely of volunteers, the rates of mental health challenge and crisis remains high, so submariners are designated psychological services at their home ports as a standard measure. While at sea, though, the logistics of mental health care remain a largely intractable problem, for a supply process that is otherwise nearly seamless.\n\n## Fire Towers\n\nThe United States' Forest Service has relied on fire lookouts for the better part of a century, and in the 1950s, some ten thousand fire towers kept watch over remote sections of the wilderness in order to alert authorities before wildfires spread out of control. While live-feed cameras have replaced lookout personnel in many parts of the US today, a handful of towers are still manned to this day, and for the so-called \"freaks on the peaks\" who choose to live in the towers, life alone in the fire season is both magnificent, and starkly isolated.\n\nIn what is essentially a minimum-wage job, fire lookouts are typically granted a ten-to-fifteen-foot-wide tower at the top of a hill or mountain, where they, their binoculars, their compass, their radio, and any romantic or furry companion are all they have. Although some lookouts are, say, a day's hike or four-wheeler ride from a small town, others are days away from help. Typically, the journey to such a remote tower is done on horseback, with an escort or guide who takes the lookout's horse and any other additional pack animals back to civilization. Other lookouts arrive by helicopter, if they're lucky enough to have a small patch of flat land near the tower to touch down upon.\n\nOnce they arrive, fire lookouts will check in by radio a few times a day to report weather conditions, but in areas without cell or internet service, that might be the only interaction they receive for days or even weeks. Resupply occurs on a weekly, biweekly, or even monthly basis, depending on the location of the tower, when Forest Service personnel might hike up to the tower with a convoy of mules, or lower crates down from their helicopters. In the intervening time, lookouts are on their own against whatever challenges may come: wildfires, of course, but also bears, wolves, severe weather, and potential shortages of food or even potable drinking water. Lightning storms can be especially dangerous, but issues like broken bones, falls, or even infected cuts can pose an outsize danger, especially in the event that a lookout might become incapacitated and unable to radio for help.\n\nDespite the risks, fire lookouts are essential in preventing forest fires that might otherwise grow massive and uncontrollable before they are even discovered. And despite the solitude, or perhaps even because of it, many people are more than happy to accept a post as a lookout. At the end of a several-day hike, they're setting up shop in one of the functionally most-remote places in the world, but with the risks, come some pretty exceptional views.\n\n## The International Space Station\n\nBut no view on Earth could ever compare to the view from space, and that's a reality the crew of the International Space Station knows better than anybody. But the crew, and their handlers on the ground, also know that there are no humans harder to reach than they are. Life on the ISS is incredibly fragile, just inches from the vacuum of space at all times, and everything on the station must be brought from Earth or sent back to it.\n\nEverything an astronaut needs aboard the ISS goes through Mission Control: no ifs, ands, buts, or Amazon delivery trucks. And because of the risky nature of launching missions into orbit, crews on the ISS must always be planning ahead for the worst-case scenario: a resupply rocket that gets delayed by weather, can't launch, or even suffers failure during the attempt to reach orbit. Over the station's history, it's been supplied via the US Space Shuttle, the Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle, the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle, and most recently, two spacecraft supplied by private organizations: the SpaceX Dragon, and the Orbital ATK Cygnus. These days, the craft that visit the ISS are remotely operated, with maximum payloads between four and eight tons depending on which one is going up. Once they're in orbit, the craft often spends days just aligning itself to the ISS and getting ready to make the delivery.\n\nEvery visit from a resupply craft must be planned far in advance, accounting for everything from launch schedules to crew member rotations to the ISS' rigorous schedule of scientific research. Companies and governments have to coordinate carefully about what they send up, and when, and it's absolutely vital that their internal priorities don't take precedence over the needs of the personnel on board. Schedules of delivery are entirely dependent on weather and physics, and only two craft can berth with the ISS at a time. Not only do these craft need to have their internal space used to their fullest efficiency, but their contents must be vetted and checked repeatedly, and balanced precisely in order to allow the craft to fly correctly. It's frequent that the dates of a scheduled visit will change multiple times before a spacecraft actually arrives, and the ISS personnel are responsible for their own meticulous rehearsals prior to the arrival of a resupply vessel.\n\nAs for what's actually being sent onboard these capsules, it's typically a pretty long list. Not only do ISS personnel require food and water, but all the oxygen they breathe must be brought to the station from Earth. The station contains sophisticated measures to recycle oxygen and water, but recycling it isn't the same as creating it, and regular shipments of oxygen are required to keep the air breathable. The same goes for water, which accounts for a massive proportion of the weight limits on individual supply capsules. Anything else the ISS needs for their scientific experiments, spare parts, and comfort and personal items, must always come second to those critical needs, and with six thousand meals delivered to the station per year, at a minimum, those non-essential shipments can be badly delayed if essential supplies on the ISS begin to dwindle. On the way down, the capsules have a somewhat easier task—transporting all the trash and waste that the ISS obviously doesn't need. But the trip up into orbit requires an incredible level of communication, coordination, and planning, plus a good deal of luck to ensure that nothing goes sideways.\n\nLuckily, the ISS receives strong, broad international support, and it's unlikely that so many visits in a row would be missed that the crew would be completely left without supplies. Not to mention, there's plenty of contingencies in place to ensure that crews can carefully ration and make do with less, if they ever needed to. But the entire reason that these contingencies can work is that the organizations on the ground do everything in their power to ensure that the people on the ISS are never put in that position. Neglecting their needs risks very quickly crossing the line from inconveniencing the crew to leaving them without, say, oxygen. With deliveries scheduled every 40-45 days, keeping the ISS stocked is a mission that ground crews simply have to get right, every time.\n\n## Key Takeaways\n\n- Extreme isolation is a common challenge for adventurers, scientists, and military personnel in remote locations.\n- The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station relies on pre-stored supplies and rare supply drops during winter.\n- Nuclear submarines use various airborne and water-based methods for resupply, ensuring long-term underwater missions.\n- Fire lookouts in remote towers face solitude and risks like wildfires and severe weather, with infrequent resupply.\n- The International Space Station requires meticulous planning and coordination for regular supply missions from Earth.\n\n## Frequently Asked Questions\n\n### What is the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station?\n\nThe Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is a research facility located at the South Pole, with an annual mean temperature of -56 degrees Fahrenheit and months of complete darkness. Over 150 people live and work there annually, with about 50 spending the winter in isolation.\n\n### How do supplies reach the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station during the winter?\n\nDuring the winter, the station relies on supplies stored in advance because extreme weather makes travel impossible. In rare cases, a plane might make a supply drop during brief windows of survivable weather.\n\n### What amenities are available at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station?\n\nThe station features a hydroponic greenhouse, lounges, a library, an art studio, a gym, comfortable sleeping accommodations, limited medical surgery capabilities, and Vitamin D supplements to combat the lack of sunlight.\n\n### How are nuclear submarines resupplied?\n\nNuclear submarines can be resupplied through drones, helicopters, Marine Corps Osprey aircraft, or Air Force cargo planes. When feasible, they are resupplied by submarine tenders at rendezvous points using rope lines to transfer supplies.\n\n### What challenges do fire lookouts face in their remote towers?\n\nFire lookouts face challenges such as wildfires, bears, wolves, severe weather, food shortages, and potential injuries. They are often days away from help and rely on weekly, biweekly, or monthly resupply drops.\n\n### How does the International Space Station (ISS) receive supplies?\n\nThe ISS receives supplies through various spacecraft, including the SpaceX Dragon and the Orbital ATK Cygnus. These spacecraft are remotely operated and must be carefully planned and coordinated to ensure efficient delivery of essential supplies like food, water, and oxygen.\n\n### What happens if a resupply mission to the ISS is delayed or fails?\n\nThe ISS crews must plan ahead for the worst-case scenario, such as a delayed or failed resupply mission. They have contingencies in place to ration and make do with less if necessary, but ground crews work to ensure that such situations are avoided.\n\n### How do fire lookouts communicate with the outside world?\n\nFire lookouts check in by radio a few times a day to report weather conditions. In areas without cell or internet service, this might be their only interaction for days or even weeks.\n\n### What is the role of a fire lookout?\n\nFire lookouts are essential in preventing forest fires by alerting authorities before wildfires spread out of control. They live in remote towers and monitor the wilderness for signs of fire.\n\n### How do people stay sane at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station during the winter?\n\nPeople at the South Pole Station emphasize building connections and friendships, pushing against the instinct to isolate or withdraw. They also have access to amenities like a gym, library, and art studio to stay occupied.\n\n## Sources\n\n- [Original Side Projects video: Stranded The Incredible Logistics of - Super Remote Locations](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBeSD4ZiFHE)\n- [https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/support/southp.jsp](https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/support/southp.jsp)\n- [https://www.southpole.aq/activities/station-logistics.html](https://www.southpole.aq/activities/station-logistics.html)\n- [https://www.usap.gov/videoclipsandmaps/spwebcam.cfm](https://www.usap.gov/videoclipsandmaps/spwebcam.cfm)\n- [https://zeymarine.com/logistics-in-antarctica/](https://zeymarine.com/logistics-in-antarctica/)\n- [https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/22/483121098/risky-south-pole-rescue-succeeds-as-2-patients-are-airlifted-out](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/22/483121098/risky-south-pole-rescue-succeeds-as-2-patients-are-airlifted-out)\n- [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/21/antarctica-polar-rescue-planes-medical-emergency](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/21/antarctica-polar-rescue-planes-medical-emergency)\n- [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/south-pole-Antarctica-winter-weather](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/south-pole-Antarctica-winter-weather)\n- [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nuclear-trained-sailors-considered-navys-best-brightest-face-mental-he-rcna65393](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nuclear-trained-sailors-considered-navys-best-brightest-face-mental-he-rcna65393)\n- [https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence/Psychological-Health-Center-of-Excellence/Clinicians-Corner-Blog/Dolphin-Docs-Mental-Health-Providers-Embedded-in-the-Submarine-Community](https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence/Psychological-Health-Center-of-Excellence/Clinicians-Corner-Blog/Dolphin-Docs-Mental-Health-Providers-Embedded-in-the-Submarine-Community)\n- [https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/how-do-americas-nuclear-submarines-get-resupplied-at-sea/](https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/how-do-americas-nuclear-submarines-get-resupplied-at-sea/)\n- [https://www.uso.org/stories/3060-what-you-should-know-about-the-u-s-naval-submarine-force](https://www.uso.org/stories/3060-what-you-should-know-about-the-u-s-naval-submarine-force)\n- [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/resupply-navy-nuclear-submarine](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/resupply-navy-nuclear-submarine)\n- [https://portal.ct.gov/OMA/In-the-News/2016-News/Life-Aboard-A-US-Submarine](https://portal.ct.gov/OMA/In-the-News/2016-News/Life-Aboard-A-US-Submarine)\n- [https://www.dwell.com/article/lives-of-remote-fire-tower-watchers-be90dcbe](https://www.dwell.com/article/lives-of-remote-fire-tower-watchers-be90dcbe)\n- [http://npshistory.com/publications/ranger/fire-lookouts-handbook.pdf](http://npshistory.com/publications/ranger/fire-lookouts-handbook.pdf)\n- [https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/93-fire-lookout-towers-remain-in-wa-heres-what-its-like-working-and-living-in-one/](https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/93-fire-lookout-towers-remain-in-wa-heres-what-its-like-working-and-living-in-one/)\n- [https://www.npr.org/2019/09/15/749547034/a-fire-lookout-on-whats-lost-in-a-transition-to-technology](https://www.npr.org/2019/09/15/749547034/a-fire-lookout-on-whats-lost-in-a-transition-to-technology)\n- [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57626403](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57626403)\n- [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/30/us-national-parks-fire-lookout-forest-wildfire](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/30/us-national-parks-fire-lookout-forest-wildfire)\n- [https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/iss-operating_an_outpost-tagged.pdf](https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/iss-operating_an_outpost-tagged.pdf)\n- [https://interestingengineering.com/science/how-is-breathable-air-replenished-on-the-iss](https://interestingengineering.com/science/how-is-breathable-air-replenished-on-the-iss)\n- [https://observer.com/2015/11/an-inside-look-at-how-nasa-resupplies-the-international-space-station/](https://observer.com/2015/11/an-inside-look-at-how-nasa-resupplies-the-international-space-station/)\n\n## Related Coverage" url: https://sideprojects.pub/article/stranded-incredible-logistics-super-remote-locations.md canonical: https://sideprojects.pub/article/stranded-incredible-logistics-super-remote-locations datePublished: 2026-06-25 dateModified: 2026-06-25 author: - name: Simon Whistler url: https://sideprojects.pub/author/simon-whistler publisher: Side Projects image: "https://media.sideprojects.pub/cdn-cgi/image/width=1600,height=900,fit=cover,quality=80,format=auto/articles/GBeSD4ZiFHE/hero.jpg" type: NewsArticle contentHash: 430f1040179a403adc276d8d7d482acec54b201ca25db2bfdf60bdaa12756027 tokens: 5709 summaryUrl: https://sideprojects.pub/article/stranded-incredible-logistics-super-remote-locations.md.summary.md --- Imagine what it would feel like to be dropped off in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but a sparsely furnished cabin, a trusted furry companion, and the small chest of supplies your escort could fit in their helicopter. And imagine what it would feel like to watch that helicopter take off, knowing that once they disappear over the tree-line, the nearest other person will be dozens, if not hundreds of miles away from your location. Sure, somebody will make a supply drop in a month's time, but until then, you're completely on your own with what you've got, in a place where 911 calls are not going to be an option. For most of us, this kind of life might seem unthinkable, but every day, thousands of intrepid adventurers, scientists, and military personnel make it their life's work to live on the fringes. Whether in remote research stations in nearly inhospitable environments, or alone in uncharted wilderness, or even out in the vacuum of space, there's some folks out there who are just built different. In this article, we'll look at what exactly it takes to keep these people alive, and what it truly means to be stranded where nobody is coming to save them. ## Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Any real-estate agent can sell a mansion, but it's the talented ones who can sell a fixer-upper. So we can only assume that whoever gets people to go out and live at the South Pole must be a genius, because that particular real-estate really doesn't sell itself. At an elevation of 9,300 feet above sea level, and surrounded by thousands of square miles of Antarctica's barren ice sheet, the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station sees an annual mean temperature of -56 degrees Fahrenheit and spends months out of every year in complete darkness. We would describe those conditions as absolute ass, but every year, over 150 people voluntarily choose to live and work there, including fifty or so who make the decision to spend the winter. In complete isolation from mid-February to late October, these fifty people carry out scientific experiments, conduct research in astrophysics and glaciology, and, we assume, try not to freeze—so how do they make it through the winter? Since extreme weather makes all travel to the South Pole impossible during these months—and, yes, we do mean completely impossible—the station has to store all of its supplies in advance, and carefully track and ration how they're used. In the summer, the base is served by a tractor train known as SPoT, which brings supplies up on specialized sleds. Anything that the station needs for winter must be accounted-for on the sleds during the summer. The station is built on stilts in order to be kept clear of snowdrifts, but the weather must still be continually monitored, and with exceptions for research, the people manning the station must stay inside. In rare, lucky windows of survivable weather, a plane might be able to make a supply drop, but that's about it. Inside the station, staying sane is just as important as staying warm, and unlike the other locations we'll explore in this piece, the good folks at the South Pole have the advantage of a fairly long list of amenities. A hydroponic greenhouse supplies fresh fruits and vegetables, the station features plenty of lounges, a library, an art studio, and a gym, and it's got plenty of relatively comfortable, relatively private sleeping accommodations. They've also got limited capabilities to carry out medical surgery, plus plenty of Vitamin D supplements to make up for the complete lack of sunlight. Frostbite and altitude sickness are common, but those can typically be handled by medical staff. Psychologically, people who've wintered over at the South Pole typically emphasize the importance of building connections and friendships at the base, and pushing hard against the instinct to isolate or withdraw. The station's inaccessibility means that any problem that can't be dealt with using the resources kept on-premises can very quickly go from an inconvenience to a catastrophe. In June of 2016, two workers suffering from an undisclosed illness proved to be beyond the station's ability to treat. June at the South Pole is one of the most inhospitable months of the year, and although the workers desperately needed to be evacuated, the planes that usually service the station wouldn't have been capable of making the journey in temperatures below -70 degrees Fahrenheit. Left with no other choice, the organization that oversees the South Pole station was forced to send a single Twin Otter prop plane on an exceptionally dangerous journey to get them out. A similar evacuation in 2001, the first one ever attempted, saw the evac plane freeze to the ice once it landed, but in 2016, the rescue plane was able to get its patients out with minimal issues, despite a wind chill of -113 degrees. Despite that success story, staff preparing to winter at the South Pole are still told explicitly not to expect any help, because of the intense risk to pilots and personnel who try and launch a rescue. ## Nuclear Submarines The inside of a nuclear submarine is a truly unique environment, one in which sailors must spend almost all of their time in dark, stressful working conditions, work long shifts, and be isolated with only each other for company. American ballistic-missile submarines are capable of staying submerged up to three months at a time, traveling far afield from US or allied ports where they might be able to resupply. But even though the submarines don't need any conventional fuel, they do need other supplies throughout their voyage, and in a wartime scenario, these subs couldn't travel all the way back to port without reducing their value as a nuclear deterrent to enemy nations. Luckily for them, naval logistics are up to the task. Nuclear-submarine resupply can come through four basic airborne platforms. A drone can deliver small items or equipment pieces, or a helicopter can deliver individual small crates, both useful options to deliver small essentials like medicine or a replacement part. Alternately, a Marine Corps Osprey aircraft could conceivably deliver fairly large amounts of goods, or pick up personnel and bring them to an American base or aircraft carrier. Finally, the Air Force's cargo planes can make some pretty massive deliveries. Which instrument the Navy chooses would depend on the needs of the moment; a submarine in relative peacetime might get a visit from an unaccompanied helicopter, or in a time of active hostilities, it might surface for a moment to receive an airdrop from a cargo plane and a full fighter escort, before disappearing into the depths again. When supply by water is feasible, submarines take their resupply from ships called submarine tenders—that is, their job is to tend to the submarines, and make sure they're well-stocked. These tenders meet their submarines at rendezvous points, where sailors from both vessels perform a well-rehearsed transfer using rope lines to slide re-supply bags down onto the top of the sub. Once those resupply bags are onboard, the submarines are good to go for the foreseeable future, and once underwater, they're cut off from the world entirely until the next scheduled rendezvous. Much like the South Pole station, life on a nuclear submarine is just as much about keeping busy as it is about fulfilling the Navy's mission. In extremely cramped quarters, with sailors sharing bunks and using their tiny spaces for multiple purposes at once, activities like exercise, card games, reading, and movies are critical, while subjects like politics or sensitive arguments are carefully avoided. Although the nuclear submarine force is vetted for mental health, and made up entirely of volunteers, the rates of mental health challenge and crisis remains high, so submariners are designated psychological services at their home ports as a standard measure. While at sea, though, the logistics of mental health care remain a largely intractable problem, for a supply process that is otherwise nearly seamless. ## Fire Towers The United States' Forest Service has relied on fire lookouts for the better part of a century, and in the 1950s, some ten thousand fire towers kept watch over remote sections of the wilderness in order to alert authorities before wildfires spread out of control. While live-feed cameras have replaced lookout personnel in many parts of the US today, a handful of towers are still manned to this day, and for the so-called "freaks on the peaks" who choose to live in the towers, life alone in the fire season is both magnificent, and starkly isolated. In what is essentially a minimum-wage job, fire lookouts are typically granted a ten-to-fifteen-foot-wide tower at the top of a hill or mountain, where they, their binoculars, their compass, their radio, and any romantic or furry companion are all they have. Although some lookouts are, say, a day's hike or four-wheeler ride from a small town, others are days away from help. Typically, the journey to such a remote tower is done on horseback, with an escort or guide who takes the lookout's horse and any other additional pack animals back to civilization. Other lookouts arrive by helicopter, if they're lucky enough to have a small patch of flat land near the tower to touch down upon. Once they arrive, fire lookouts will check in by radio a few times a day to report weather conditions, but in areas without cell or internet service, that might be the only interaction they receive for days or even weeks. Resupply occurs on a weekly, biweekly, or even monthly basis, depending on the location of the tower, when Forest Service personnel might hike up to the tower with a convoy of mules, or lower crates down from their helicopters. In the intervening time, lookouts are on their own against whatever challenges may come: wildfires, of course, but also bears, wolves, severe weather, and potential shortages of food or even potable drinking water. Lightning storms can be especially dangerous, but issues like broken bones, falls, or even infected cuts can pose an outsize danger, especially in the event that a lookout might become incapacitated and unable to radio for help. Despite the risks, fire lookouts are essential in preventing forest fires that might otherwise grow massive and uncontrollable before they are even discovered. And despite the solitude, or perhaps even because of it, many people are more than happy to accept a post as a lookout. At the end of a several-day hike, they're setting up shop in one of the functionally most-remote places in the world, but with the risks, come some pretty exceptional views. ## The International Space Station But no view on Earth could ever compare to the view from space, and that's a reality the crew of the International Space Station knows better than anybody. But the crew, and their handlers on the ground, also know that there are no humans harder to reach than they are. Life on the ISS is incredibly fragile, just inches from the vacuum of space at all times, and everything on the station must be brought from Earth or sent back to it. Everything an astronaut needs aboard the ISS goes through Mission Control: no ifs, ands, buts, or Amazon delivery trucks. And because of the risky nature of launching missions into orbit, crews on the ISS must always be planning ahead for the worst-case scenario: a resupply rocket that gets delayed by weather, can't launch, or even suffers failure during the attempt to reach orbit. Over the station's history, it's been supplied via the US Space Shuttle, the Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle, the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle, and most recently, two spacecraft supplied by private organizations: the SpaceX Dragon, and the Orbital ATK Cygnus. These days, the craft that visit the ISS are remotely operated, with maximum payloads between four and eight tons depending on which one is going up. Once they're in orbit, the craft often spends days just aligning itself to the ISS and getting ready to make the delivery. Every visit from a resupply craft must be planned far in advance, accounting for everything from launch schedules to crew member rotations to the ISS' rigorous schedule of scientific research. Companies and governments have to coordinate carefully about what they send up, and when, and it's absolutely vital that their internal priorities don't take precedence over the needs of the personnel on board. Schedules of delivery are entirely dependent on weather and physics, and only two craft can berth with the ISS at a time. Not only do these craft need to have their internal space used to their fullest efficiency, but their contents must be vetted and checked repeatedly, and balanced precisely in order to allow the craft to fly correctly. It's frequent that the dates of a scheduled visit will change multiple times before a spacecraft actually arrives, and the ISS personnel are responsible for their own meticulous rehearsals prior to the arrival of a resupply vessel. As for what's actually being sent onboard these capsules, it's typically a pretty long list. Not only do ISS personnel require food and water, but all the oxygen they breathe must be brought to the station from Earth. The station contains sophisticated measures to recycle oxygen and water, but recycling it isn't the same as creating it, and regular shipments of oxygen are required to keep the air breathable. The same goes for water, which accounts for a massive proportion of the weight limits on individual supply capsules. Anything else the ISS needs for their scientific experiments, spare parts, and comfort and personal items, must always come second to those critical needs, and with six thousand meals delivered to the station per year, at a minimum, those non-essential shipments can be badly delayed if essential supplies on the ISS begin to dwindle. On the way down, the capsules have a somewhat easier task—transporting all the trash and waste that the ISS obviously doesn't need. But the trip up into orbit requires an incredible level of communication, coordination, and planning, plus a good deal of luck to ensure that nothing goes sideways. Luckily, the ISS receives strong, broad international support, and it's unlikely that so many visits in a row would be missed that the crew would be completely left without supplies. Not to mention, there's plenty of contingencies in place to ensure that crews can carefully ration and make do with less, if they ever needed to. But the entire reason that these contingencies can work is that the organizations on the ground do everything in their power to ensure that the people on the ISS are never put in that position. Neglecting their needs risks very quickly crossing the line from inconveniencing the crew to leaving them without, say, oxygen. With deliveries scheduled every 40-45 days, keeping the ISS stocked is a mission that ground crews simply have to get right, every time. ## Key Takeaways - Extreme isolation is a common challenge for adventurers, scientists, and military personnel in remote locations. - The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station relies on pre-stored supplies and rare supply drops during winter. - Nuclear submarines use various airborne and water-based methods for resupply, ensuring long-term underwater missions. - Fire lookouts in remote towers face solitude and risks like wildfires and severe weather, with infrequent resupply. - The International Space Station requires meticulous planning and coordination for regular supply missions from Earth. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station? The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is a research facility located at the South Pole, with an annual mean temperature of -56 degrees Fahrenheit and months of complete darkness. Over 150 people live and work there annually, with about 50 spending the winter in isolation. ### How do supplies reach the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station during the winter? During the winter, the station relies on supplies stored in advance because extreme weather makes travel impossible. In rare cases, a plane might make a supply drop during brief windows of survivable weather. ### What amenities are available at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station? The station features a hydroponic greenhouse, lounges, a library, an art studio, a gym, comfortable sleeping accommodations, limited medical surgery capabilities, and Vitamin D supplements to combat the lack of sunlight. ### How are nuclear submarines resupplied? Nuclear submarines can be resupplied through drones, helicopters, Marine Corps Osprey aircraft, or Air Force cargo planes. When feasible, they are resupplied by submarine tenders at rendezvous points using rope lines to transfer supplies. ### What challenges do fire lookouts face in their remote towers? Fire lookouts face challenges such as wildfires, bears, wolves, severe weather, food shortages, and potential injuries. They are often days away from help and rely on weekly, biweekly, or monthly resupply drops. ### How does the International Space Station (ISS) receive supplies? The ISS receives supplies through various spacecraft, including the SpaceX Dragon and the Orbital ATK Cygnus. These spacecraft are remotely operated and must be carefully planned and coordinated to ensure efficient delivery of essential supplies like food, water, and oxygen. ### What happens if a resupply mission to the ISS is delayed or fails? The ISS crews must plan ahead for the worst-case scenario, such as a delayed or failed resupply mission. They have contingencies in place to ration and make do with less if necessary, but ground crews work to ensure that such situations are avoided. ### How do fire lookouts communicate with the outside world? Fire lookouts check in by radio a few times a day to report weather conditions. In areas without cell or internet service, this might be their only interaction for days or even weeks. ### What is the role of a fire lookout? Fire lookouts are essential in preventing forest fires by alerting authorities before wildfires spread out of control. They live in remote towers and monitor the wilderness for signs of fire. ### How do people stay sane at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station during the winter? People at the South Pole Station emphasize building connections and friendships, pushing against the instinct to isolate or withdraw. They also have access to amenities like a gym, library, and art studio to stay occupied. ## Sources - [Original Side Projects video: Stranded The Incredible Logistics of - Super Remote Locations](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBeSD4ZiFHE) - [https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/support/southp.jsp](https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/support/southp.jsp) - [https://www.southpole.aq/activities/station-logistics.html](https://www.southpole.aq/activities/station-logistics.html) - [https://www.usap.gov/videoclipsandmaps/spwebcam.cfm](https://www.usap.gov/videoclipsandmaps/spwebcam.cfm) - [https://zeymarine.com/logistics-in-antarctica/](https://zeymarine.com/logistics-in-antarctica/) - [https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/22/483121098/risky-south-pole-rescue-succeeds-as-2-patients-are-airlifted-out](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/22/483121098/risky-south-pole-rescue-succeeds-as-2-patients-are-airlifted-out) - [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/21/antarctica-polar-rescue-planes-medical-emergency](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/21/antarctica-polar-rescue-planes-medical-emergency) - [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/south-pole-Antarctica-winter-weather](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/south-pole-Antarctica-winter-weather) - [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nuclear-trained-sailors-considered-navys-best-brightest-face-mental-he-rcna65393](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nuclear-trained-sailors-considered-navys-best-brightest-face-mental-he-rcna65393) - [https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence/Psychological-Health-Center-of-Excellence/Clinicians-Corner-Blog/Dolphin-Docs-Mental-Health-Providers-Embedded-in-the-Submarine-Community](https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence/Psychological-Health-Center-of-Excellence/Clinicians-Corner-Blog/Dolphin-Docs-Mental-Health-Providers-Embedded-in-the-Submarine-Community) - [https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/how-do-americas-nuclear-submarines-get-resupplied-at-sea/](https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/how-do-americas-nuclear-submarines-get-resupplied-at-sea/) - [https://www.uso.org/stories/3060-what-you-should-know-about-the-u-s-naval-submarine-force](https://www.uso.org/stories/3060-what-you-should-know-about-the-u-s-naval-submarine-force) - [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/resupply-navy-nuclear-submarine](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/resupply-navy-nuclear-submarine) - [https://portal.ct.gov/OMA/In-the-News/2016-News/Life-Aboard-A-US-Submarine](https://portal.ct.gov/OMA/In-the-News/2016-News/Life-Aboard-A-US-Submarine) - [https://www.dwell.com/article/lives-of-remote-fire-tower-watchers-be90dcbe](https://www.dwell.com/article/lives-of-remote-fire-tower-watchers-be90dcbe) - [http://npshistory.com/publications/ranger/fire-lookouts-handbook.pdf](http://npshistory.com/publications/ranger/fire-lookouts-handbook.pdf) - [https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/93-fire-lookout-towers-remain-in-wa-heres-what-its-like-working-and-living-in-one/](https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/93-fire-lookout-towers-remain-in-wa-heres-what-its-like-working-and-living-in-one/) - [https://www.npr.org/2019/09/15/749547034/a-fire-lookout-on-whats-lost-in-a-transition-to-technology](https://www.npr.org/2019/09/15/749547034/a-fire-lookout-on-whats-lost-in-a-transition-to-technology) - [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57626403](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57626403) - [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/30/us-national-parks-fire-lookout-forest-wildfire](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/30/us-national-parks-fire-lookout-forest-wildfire) - [https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/iss-operating_an_outpost-tagged.pdf](https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/iss-operating_an_outpost-tagged.pdf) - [https://interestingengineering.com/science/how-is-breathable-air-replenished-on-the-iss](https://interestingengineering.com/science/how-is-breathable-air-replenished-on-the-iss) - [https://observer.com/2015/11/an-inside-look-at-how-nasa-resupplies-the-international-space-station/](https://observer.com/2015/11/an-inside-look-at-how-nasa-resupplies-the-international-space-station/) ## Related Coverage